What kind of work is most valuable in the eyes of God? Some people think that the kind of work God most values is ministry. That assumption can leave many with the sense that the work they do every day has little value beyond a paycheck. Are those in ministry the only ones storing up treasure in heaven? Nehemiah suggests that is not the truth.

While Ezra returned and set his focus on restoring obedience to the Law in Israel, Nehemiah faced a different problem. A high-ranking official in the court of Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah was in a key position of influence (Neh. 1:11). So, when he received a report that Jerusalem was defenseless and in a state of disrepair, he sprang into action. “I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” (v. 12). Nehemiah did not make a distinction between spiritual and earthly work. He understood that work can be spiritual when the motive is right.

Nehemiah recognized that he had a promise from the Lord that he could claim. God promised He would send Israel into exile if they disobeyed Him, but He also promised to bring them back and restore them to their place if they repented (Neh. 1:9). Israel was back in the land, but it didn’t appear they would thrive because a city without walls is vulnerable. So, the official prayed for favor with the king to start a construction project! He then relocated to Israel to oversee the work. Some might consider this kind of work of lesser value than more spiritual work, but that’s not how God saw it. When the king granted his request, Nehemiah noted it was “because the gracious hand of my God was on me” (v. 8).

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